Related Content

Before the rain fell Thursday, about 12,000 structures were considered in danger, but that number has since been reduced to 289, according to Cal Fire.

The showers that passed through the area helped firefighters secure containment lines, which allowed residents to be let back into their homes.

Mandatory evacuations were lifted for areas of Quintette and Volcanoville. However, Cal Fire has asked residents to remain ready to evacuate if conditions change.

A flash-flood warning was issued for several hours Thursday afternoon in El Dorado and Placer counties, but it expired by 5:30 p.m. or so. Some shear popped up on the radar before 6 p.m., indicating very interesting thunderstorms, said KCRA 3 meteorologist David Biggar.

One had a height of 31,000 feet -- and plenty of hail, Biggar said on Twitter.

The severely burned areas were of particular concern, including the south and middle forks of the American River and the Rubicon River basins, according to the National Weather Service.

The blaze grew to 95,347 acres overnight and is now 55 percent contained, according to Cal Fire.

The rainy weather, which is much-needed in drought-stricken California, was expected to continue through Saturday.

It should help contain the fire but could also lead to mudslides that could make firefighting more dangerous.

Fighting the fire is turning into a pricey endeavor: It's injured at least six people, burned a dozen homes and is accumulating a tab in excess of $50 million -- in fact, this is the second priciest blaze in the state this year, officials said.

The state spent more than $85 million fighting a fire in Klamath National Forest along the California-Oregon border.

"It takes a lot of resources to fight a fire of this magnitude," Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said. "Protecting those people and their property is a huge priority for us. So, until we get a good amount of containment, we will have enough crews assigned until we can stop this blaze."

More than 8,000 firefighters, some coming from as far away as Alaska and Florida, were battling the blaze near the town of Pollock Pines.

On Wednesday night, evacuees from Swansboro, a mountain community of about 400 homes, were allowed to return. Some 2,800 people overall had been evacuated.

Wayne Allen Huntsman, 37, has been charged with starting the King Fire. He has pleaded not guilty to arson and remains in jail on $10 million bond.

The blaze is one of nearly 5,000 wildfires in California this year, a 26 percent increase compared to an average year of about 3,900.

Road closures remain in effect for Mosquito Road at Wentworth Springs Road and Mosquito Road at Stope Drive because of fire equipment and activity in the area.